Ben Jönes
@FlywheelMedia1
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Freelance UK railway/travel journalist for @RAIL @CNNTravel & others, cat butler, Euro rail explorer, Wednesdayite, Sheffielder, Yorkshireman, European.
Joined January 2017
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Helicam shot of the
@rhaetischebahn
#worldrecord
train on the Albula spirals gives an even better idea of the extraordinary achievement of running a 100-car train on this line.
@TodaysRailways1
@CNNTravel
🚃🇨🇭
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488
2K
Automatic metro trains in
#Copenhagen
have a ‘control desk’ on the front shelf so kids can ‘drive’ the train. It’s just a small thing, costing virtually nothing but (if recent experience is any guide) it’s VERY popular & easy, feelgood PR for public transport.
@dlr_london
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128
1K
How’s your train to work today? Ours is 25 EMUs, 100 cars, 2,990t setting a new world record for the longest passenger train. And even more exceptional because it’s happening on
@rhaetischebahn
Albula spirals.
@Media_STS
@CNNTravel
@SwissTravelUK
@Fran_Lambo
#rhaetiansensation
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And here’s the video evidence. A
@hornby
#InterCity125
running on a full size
@LNER
HST while descending Stoke Bank at 125mph. Not your average Saturday.
#LetsGoRoundAgain
#HSTFarewell
@richardsalkeld
@MrTimDunn
@KateLNER1
@RailwayMagazine
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A machine to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who suffered Maxpax hot drinks on BR in the 1980s. An unforgettable combo of genuinely horrific taste & superheated fluid in a plastic cup so thin you could melt off your fingerprints. Seen at
@geevormuseum
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Jesus saves... passengers in danger of missing their rail replacement buses.
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Amazing photos of new trains being delivered to the Gruetschalp-Murren line in the Bernese Oberland🇨🇭
Other than cable car, this tiny road is the only way to reach the isolated line, perched 1,600m asl on a ledge above Lauterbrunnen. Pics from
#Stadler
@JungfrauRegion
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How Italy's high-speed trains helped kill
#Alitalia
(final flights tomorrow) - passenger nos. rocketed from 6.5m in 2008 to 40m in 2018 - not including NTV’s HS ‘Italo’ trains. A fantastic example of how HS rail reduces domestic air travel.
@CNNTravel
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Nipped out for a better look at this today. First time I’ve been inside an APT since the early-1980s & it still smells like the 1980s in here.
And comfy seats that line up with the windows. Who knew such things were possible?
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I mean, who here hasn’t been caught looking at pictures of
#tractors
when they should be working?
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Best of luck to everyone out there working on the railway this week. Stay safe and remember to wear your PPE!
#heatwaveuk
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One of the perks of this job is the occasional chance to sit up front and see drivers doing their thing. There’s an awful lot more to it than ‘just pushing a few buttons’. Thanks to
@AvantiWestCoast
for today’s Class 805 trip.
@RAIL
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A classic example of how today’s railway lets down occasional users when there’s an easy win to be had. League ⚽️ fixtures are known months ahead - does anyone at the TOCs check? If we’re going to rely on leisure traffic we need to be better at meeting demand for events like this
The 8.54 from Leeds to Blackpool North. Leeds Utd away at Blackburn and just a standard 3 car. Another 3 car worth of passengers left on the platform.
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Rebranded e320 374024 and
@thalys_en
PBKA set 4304 showing off the new unified
@Eurostar
branding at Brussels Midi. Fleets will retain current liveries, so no red e320s or blue TGVs for the moment.
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So, the new
#Stadler
Class 398 tram-train for
@tfwrail
. It’s not exactly a looker is it? Interior looks OK, 2+2 seating, but this will be a very different experience for Valley Lines passengers vs traditional heavy rail DMUs.
#Wales
#Cardiff
#ValleyLines
#tramtrain
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At the sharp end of an Amsterdam-bound
@Eurostar
e320 approaching Lille Europe. Thanks to our driver Ashley for allowing us to invade his space!
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I’m going to stick my neck out and say that A4s look best in wartime black. It would be even better if it had red wheels. 😉
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Just been for a quick visit to
@networkrail
Peterborough powerbox, which will signal its last train at 19.59 tomorrow after 51yrs of service. Control of a 68-mile section of the ECML between Biggleswade & Stoke Tunnel passes to York ROC but will switch to ETCS from 2028.
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Mrs J is in Devon this weekend. She has just sent me this photo, asking: “Is it anything special?”
As you’d expect, I am in no way jealous that she’s just seen a pair of 50s on the sea wall. 🤦🏻
@FiftyFund
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First complete FLIRT unit for
@tfwrail
on its way from
#Stadler
Bussnang factory to Basel (and eventually to
#Wales
) in
#Switzerland
yesterday. With some classic🇨🇭electric traction on the front - former
@SBBCargo
421 374, now operated by SRT. Photo by Gerry Klaus.
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It's good news because it needs doing, but £3.9bn to upgrade EIGHT MILES of railway makes
#HS2
look like a bargain. Rebuilding while the shop is open is very expensive and guarantees years of disruption to passengers.
Hearing that Network Rail has landed the funding it needs for the major TransPennine Route Upgrade remodelling work around Huddersfield. I can imagine DfT ministers will want to announce this one - hopefully soon.
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And another one:
@DB_Bahn
keen to revive plans for Frankfurt-London route, 14yrs after original proposal. Changes to tunnel safety regs should solve one obstacle but what about station capacity?
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New
@Eurostar
branding just unveiled in
#Brussels
.
@thalys_en
brand disappears in new merged operator. All trains will carry new branding by end of ‘23. Unified website, app & loyalty scheme. E* fleet to be used on ex-Thalys routes to increase capacity by 2025.
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An eBay bargain. ‘British Rail Design’ published by the Danish Design Council in 1986. Lots of lovely BR artwork (immediately pre-NSE - note the Jaffa Cake 317) & info about the corporate image as it was in the mid-80s. Also helps me with my 🇩🇰 skills.
@_doublearrow
@MrTimDunn
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It might just be more obvious at this time of year, but one thing that was really noticeable from yesterday’s
@AvantiWestCoast
cab ride was how dense the lineside vegetation is on much of the WCML now. This is the approach to Rugby from N’hampton Loop.
@networkrail
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Very nice photo just arrived from
@CalSleeper
of the new
@CAFRailUK
Mk5 stock passing through the Monessie Gorge while on test on the
#WestHighlandLine
@FWHLines
- not long until the first sets enter service on the Lowland route.
@GBRailfreight
@RailwayMagazine
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1/ Well. That was a wonderful thing. A slam door EMU back in Waterloo after 6,820 days. Massive congratulations to
@Gordon_3417
for making it happen. Special mention to
@SW_Help
@GBRailfreight
@railandroad
@Siemens
@DriverPotter
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Having an office clearout and found this wonderful (and still relevant) 1994 cartoon by
@BellBelltoons
from
@guardian
. Enjoy the detail!
@RAIL
@Captain_Deltic
@cmajrail
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Just a magnificent effort by everyone at
@LNER
and
@heritagepaintin
and fitting tribute a British design icon. Huge crowds out for it at Leeds. Great to catch up with friends on the train too. King’s Cross here we come
@richardsalkeld
@MrTimDunn
@RAIL
@Modern_Railways
@DavidHorne
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This is new. Building a train set on a train heading down Stoke Bank at 125mph with
@MrTimDunn
and
@KateLNER1
-
@hornby
HST doing the honours, but only after a test run by Smokey Joe.
@LNER
@richardsalkeld
#InterCity125
#HSTFarewell
#LetsGoRoundAgain
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How good does this look? Huge credit to 71A Locomotive Group for a wonderful restoration job on 33012.
#Diesel
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Say hello to
@RPSITrains
@SteamTrains_Dub
Cravens Bar Car - the only one in the world serving (a very fine pint of) draught
#Guinness
. A wonderful place to spend a day with some of the friendliest & most knowledgeable railway people you’ll ever meet. (1/2)
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Baby Deltic D5910 really starting to look the part now. One of the stars of the show at
@barrowhill41
150+2 Gala this weekend.
#englishelectric
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@GarethDennis
Holy Moly. Who'd have thought we'd ever see double stack boxes on an electrified railway?
#India
showing the rest of the world how it's done.
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My latest bit for
@CNNTravel
. Nice choice of header pic too!
How Trans Europe Express trains could be making a comeback
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Finally for the UK contingent at
#InnoTrans2022
, it’s
@merseyrail
777140. A superbly presented, box fresh IPEMU with batteries for working away from the 3rd rail network. When they’re finally in service the 777s will deliver a huge leap in quality for Merseyrail users.
@InnoTrans
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A little bit English Electric quality far from home in north-eastern Hungary 🇭🇺.
VHid Class 86s 450005 & 007 (can’t recall off the top of my head what their BR numbers were) stabled at Szerencs just now.
@Clinnick1
@RAIL
@Captain_Deltic
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The big day has arrived. Every available vehicle in the
@rhaetischebahn
fleet has been pressed into service to carry the crowds & cover for the 25 Capricorn sets forming the
#WorldRecord
train.
@Media_STS
@SwissTravelUK
@CNNTravel
#swissrail175
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Spent the weekend at the NEC for
#Warley
Model Railway Show. Lots of lovely layouts and very nice new models, but this wonderful narrow gauge GWR Pacer was by far my favourite thing at the show. Hats off to whoever made them!
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Just another new high speed railway under construction, through three countries, linking 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹 to 🇵🇱 and the wider European rail network.
#RailBaltica
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First views of
@HitachiRailEU
AT300/Class 802 in full
@TPExpressTrains
livery. First set has now completed 15k miles of fault free running and made 1st trip over N Transpennine route last night. More testing there & on WCML over coming weeks.
#Nova1
@RailwayMagazine
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Chapeau
@fsitaliane
- perfect timing, perfect advertising. Whoever diagrammed the pink EMU to run alongside the
@giroditalia
peloton today deserves a big glass of wine. 😘
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Not saying the French rail network is Paris-centric, but it’s quicker to go Marseille-Bordeaux via Paris than direct on the classic line. 😮
On the upside, you can spend that extra hour enjoying the views from a loco-hauled Corail coach rather than than squeezed into Duplex.
Fun fact : un TGV direct Marseille - Bordeaux transitant via Paris mettrait 5h08 pour ~1300 km parcourus, contre 6h05 pour l'Intercités actuel (~650 km).
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Anyone else noticed that the rumoured design for the new
#GreatBritishRailways
logo appears to have been lifted from this BR/Danish Design Council book from 1986?
@_doublearrow
@Captain_Deltic
@RAIL
@chrisapplegate
@seatsixtyone
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A few more views live from the
@rhaetischebahn
#WorldRecord
train in🇨🇭today.
@SwissTravelUK
@Media_STS
@CNNTravel
@TodaysRailways1
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This is mesmerising. I’ve watched it about 10 times already. Can’t wait to have a go on these when the new
@goldenpassmob
gauge-changing trains start running between
#Montreux
and
#Interlaken
next year.🇨🇭
#Engineering
#Switzerland
#Stadler
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This is what happens when you get your HO and your OO models mixed up.
Island Line class 484, 484004 is seen pushing former island line class 483, 483006. Both are seen approaching Smallbrook Junction heading for Sandown Yard
20th October 2021
@south_railway
@TractionLondon
@IslandLineUK
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I knew there was a good reason for booking the 1933
@LNER
off the Cross tonight. 91106 providing the horses.
@225groupuk
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Tidying up my office & found a big stack of 1980s/90s BR window labels. I used to 'collect' these when I was a kid without ever realising how historic & evocative they would become. Can't imagine that too many survive nowadays, so here are a few of my favourites.
@_doublearrow
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Utterly tone deaf. No government that does this & maintains the freeze on fuel duty while massively underfunding public transport & active travel is serious about meeting climate change targets.
From tomorrow, tax will be slashed on flights within the UK, a move that will help boost UK-wide connectivity.
#AirPassengerDuty
#Aviation
2K
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If anyone is watching at
@northernassist
or
@ScotRail
- when you replace your Class 150/156/158 DMUs in the next few years (if there's any money for it), can we have something like this for the scenic routes please?
#Panorama
#scenicrailways
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Nice to get a helicam view of one of Europe’s most beautiful railway viaducts as the
#TourDeFrance2022
passed through
#Chapeauroux
just now. The highlight of any journey on the
@SNCF
Nimes-Clermont Ferrand ‘Ligne de Cevennes’.
@EuropeByRail
@nedboulting
@ITVSport
#Lozere
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In rural France it’s not uncommon for nesting cargo planes to be startled by passing TGVs.
#nature
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With the looming replacement of Cl. 15X DMUs & new importance of leisure travel, there's a unique chance to procure new trains to exploit the potential of
@ScotRail
@tfwrail
@northern_pr
@GWRHelp
scenic lines. Imagine seeing the West Highland Line or S&C from one of these.
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Astonishingly, this was 15 years ago on April 8. A great day out to mark the end of Midland Main Line trains into the train shed at
@StPancrasInt
Great day out 'working' with
@pipdunn
@philatrail
&
@RAIL
and many others.
@EMTrains
@Eurostar
@networkrail
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1) I‘m all for more competition & more trains on London-Paris route. the demand is 100% there. But, is it deliverable by 2025? It seems unlikely. Reports say Evolyn has ordered 12
@Alstom
Avelia trains, likely to be similar to
@SNCFVoyageurs
new TGV-M…
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This would make a fantastic railway themed visitor centre attraction to generate positive PR for the railway. A viewing platform over the stn throat, model railway, exhibition spaces etc - it could be GB Rail’s Pompidou Centre.
A landmark railway signal box which has helped guide passengers safely into one of the UK's busiest stations will close on Christmas Eve.
Full story:
@networkrail
@NetworkRailBHM
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Great to see freight back on the Cambrian for the first time since 2005. Last Friday's trial run saw
@ColasRail_off
use 2x
@networkrail
Class 37s (the only locos able to work the line) to move 700t of timber from
#Aberystwyth
to Kronospan in
#Chirk
, taking 16 HGVs off Welsh roads
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Always nice to see an ‘ED’.
NSE 73140 at
@SpaVRofficial
in Tunbridge Wells.
#bimode
#electrodiesel
#southernregion
#englishelectric
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Two hours ago they were part of a world record attempt. Now they’re straight back to work ferrying the crowds away from the Bergun festival site.
@rhaetischebahn
@Media_STS
@TodaysRailways1
@SwissTravelUK
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Just spotted these elsewhere on social media. Is this your doing
@DriverPotter
?
With apologies to
@25kV
!
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A look behind the scenes at
@HitachiRailEU
#Doncaster
£80m depot where the new
@LNER
#Azuma
and
@TPExpressTrains
Nova 1 fleets are based. Impressive stuff.
@RailwayMagazine
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Class 379s finally confirmed for
@GNRailUK
in £50m deal to provide additional capacity (see link) but when did ownership switch from Akiem to
@PorterbrookRail
?
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First look at one of the 23 new
@HitachiRailENG
trains now being built for
@AvantiWestCoast
. Bi-mode Cl 805s will replace Super Voyagers on N Wales route & eliminate diesel working under the wires. Cl 807 7-car EMUs will add extra capacity on WCML.
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Tremendous news. Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard and for so long to make this happen.
@SwanRailway
Can’t wait to travel all the way to Swanage by train.
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Lovely souvenirs produced by
@Gordon_3417
for today’s Gordon Pettitt special. Even more excitement soon!
@DriverPotter
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Breaking:
@transportgovuk
just confirmed that the
@TPExpressTrains
contract with
@FirstGroupplc
will not be renewed/extended and it will be run by the Operator of Last Resort from May 28. SoS Mark Harper has asked the Northern Metro Mayors to work with DfT on improving services.
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Stunning press photo from
@TPExpressTrains
of its new
@HitachiRailEU
Nova 1 (Class 802) train at the Cross. Livery really suits the design. Dynamic, modern and sleek. Needs a yellow end though... ;-)
*grabs tin hat and dashes for cover*
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#Nurnberg
Hbf today. Somehow I can’t imagine
#Rocket
ever being allowed a trundle out from the
@RailwayMuseum
into
#York
station to rub shoulders with
@LNER
Azuma and
@TPExpressTrains
Novae.
@RailwayMagazine
Spotted at Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof. Looks as though a museum piece has escaped from the Verkehrsmuseum Nürnberg. What an odd juxtaposition.
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Nice morning for some AC action. Difficult to comprehend that a Virgin red 87 is now ‘Heritage’ but it looks stunning.
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Putting together a few bits on
@VirginTrains
for next
@RailwayMagazine
& found my shots of 'Super Voyager' 221101 tilt testing on the Paris-Toulouse main line in Feb 2002. One of the best press trips I ever did with/for
@RAIL
I seem to recall a flying visit by
@Captain_Deltic
too
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Nice of our Danish friends to lay on some quality vintage action for our arrival in
#Copenhagen
.
Beautiful 4-4-0 with a collection of wooden bodied 4/6/8 wheel coaches on a Christmas ‘Veterantog’ to Helsingør.
@omDSB
#Steam
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A few more views and video of
@postractionuk
08e moving quietly away from its unveiling. That unmistakable English Electric traction motor whine is still there though!
@barrowhill41
@RAIL
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Up far too early for the first
@LNER
south from Grantham. It does have its compensations though.
What’s on the back end
@225groupuk
?
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Excellent little piece from
@guardian
that explains much of why we do this, and how it helps to make life a bit more bearable for some people.
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Railway companies! Why not promote one of your finest scenic train journeys by offering a SIX HOUR connection at a remote junction. Or even better, arriving in the other direction FOUR minutes after the last train has departed!
Welcome to France.
Tentative de voyager sur la ligne du train jaune (qui a l'air exceptionnelle) : C'EST UN ENFER
SIX HEURES de correspondance à Latour-d. avec l'arrivée du train de nuit
Et dans l'autre sens ? Arrivée du train jaune à 18h51 (ou 12h31), DÉPART DU TRAIN DE NUIT À 18h47 SA MÈRE
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First
@greateranglia
Class 755 bi-mode FLIRT has arrived in East Anglia. Passing Ipswich earlier today on its way to Crown Point.
@RailwayMagazine
@railexpress
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@YICETOR
@robdelaney
Oblong is such a great word. Combined with shithouse it’s an absolute winner.
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@J70JDV
@MrTimDunn
@barrowhill41
@chris_railway
@Clinnick1
@hassardS
@railwaysillus
3/ This is what we came to see. To slam a door and hear the
#duggaduggadugga
back in Waterloo again. Thanks
@Gordon_3417
. Let’s do it again soon.
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Just rolled off the ferry into
#Denmark
- Puttgarden-Rodby is one of only three routes now in Europe where passenger trains run onto ferries. Others are Malmo-Berlin
@berlinexpress1
(seasonal) and the Straits of Messina in Italy. A rare treat!
@seatsixtyone
@RailwayMagazine
9
12
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Just for Andy
@GWRHelp
here’s a video of the
@hornby
@HitachiRailEU
#IET
🚅 on the move. On diesel obviously as the wires aren’t up yet. 😉
5
11
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Second new train launch of the day -
@Hull_Trains
802301 arrives at Hull Paragon for the official launch in its new home city. First of 5 bi-mode sets built by
@HitachiRailEU
in Italy. All due to be in service by January.
@RailwayMagazine
1
10
78
1/ V lucky to visit the
@SellafieldLtd
rail team this wk to find out how it operates in such a unique & challenging site & to check out their
@ClaytonEquipltd
battery locos. Totally worth the 2yrs of asking & planning to get security clearance! Look out for feature in
@RAIL
soon
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Circumvesuviana train burnt out due to an electrical fire today. Damage estimated at €2.65.
🇮🇹 "Circumvesuviana train at Pompeii (Naples) left at 9:25 am from Porta Nolana station when a fire broke out on the roof of the train. No injuries"
Hate to say it, but Circumvesuviana must take the prize for worst railway in Europe.
Scruffy, dirty, old, graffiti-covered trains.
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Those of a certain age might remember the German Pacific at Carnforth. Well, it’s just returned to the main line in 🇩🇪 after a gap of 50+ years. What could be better than an 01 on a big train to Westerland on a summer Saturday?
@Eisenbahnkurier
pic of it crossing the Kiel Canal.
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7
74
@DB_Bahn
Always a highlight of any trip on this route - crossing the Nord-Ostsee Canal on the Rendsburger Hochbrucke. An amazing piece of engineering, complete with spiral approach on the N side. Was always more fun seeing it from the open droplight of an IR train hauled by a 103 though!
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Spied my first
@LumoTravel
Class 803 in the old suburban platforms at KX earlier.
@HitachiRailENG
1
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76
Up close and personal with some Class 56s at
#UKRL
in Leicester today. These ones will shortly be off for re-engineering with GM engines for
@GBRailfreight
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